Boat club, 1930-31
Our victory in the Clinker Fours last term was a good beginning to what looks like being a very successful year on the river. Concerning that event I can do no better than quote N.C. Pearson’s entry in the boat club book “Today we beat St. Catharine’s in the final, thereby winning the Fours for the first time since 1895. The slow time was not unexpected, for there was a half gale blowing down the Reach, and also our crew had to go slow over the latter half of the course to avoid fouling their opponents. As usual, we were well up on the start and steadily overhauled them, getting within a length at the red grind. From there on we were content to paddle over behind Cat’s holding them with an easy 24. Given better conditions and front station, we might easily have broken the record, for the Four was not only fast, but a crew. The three factors contributing to this famous victory were the ability to swing, a hard leg-drive, and an A1 stroke, and although they had been in their present order for only a fortnight they just came up to the mark in time. Now that the spectre of ‘Gonville luck’ has been banished, let us hope for a bright future”
Michaelmas crews, 1930
Bow JG Webb (Monkton Coombe) 10 6
2 GC Willan (Durham) 12 13
3 ADG Braithwaite (Shrewsbury) 11 6
4 CB Anderson (King Edward, S. Africa) 12 12
Cox JR Oliver (Leys) 8 12
Coaches NC Pearson; D Haig-Thomas
The Lents 1931
The First Boat were quite a good hard-working crew though the work was not always most effectively applied. We got within three-quarters or a length of LMBC I on three nights but could not make up the deficit, though not through lack of trying. We bumped Trinity Hall I on Grassy Corner on the the third night.
The second Boat were a very fast crew, and combined well. They worked extremely hard and thoroughly deserved their oars, an achievement that they accomplished with great ease, never going beyond the Red Grind. They bumped Corpus I,third Trinity, Christ’s II, Trinity Hall II. This is the first time a Caius Boat have won their oars for five years.
The third Boat bumped Trinity Hall III and had they not had the bad luck to be robbed of a bump by Selwyn II, a boat that went up seven places, might have shown a better record.
The Fourth Boat, though they were the lightest crew on the river, worked very hard and did well in not going down more than twice. C. B. A. (Captain)
Lent crews, 1931
First Boat
Bow JJ Berry 2 JC Whitfield 3 DWJ Piggott 4 WM Smythe 5 RDH Jones 6 GC Willan 7 ADG Braithwaite Str. CB Anderson Cox AF Stallard Coaches J Moore (LMBC) AGR Mooring (Queens’)
Second Boat
Bow CW McConnell 2 GFA Somerset 3 JW Lewis 4 JAG Ryrie 5 EC Russell 6 KR Hayward 7 EGK Williams Str. WM Catchpole Cox WH Coward CB Anderson ADG Braithwaite
Third Boat
Bow TULS O’Connor 2 PVM Quiggin 3 DB Pratt 4 JG Murray 5 DG Guest 6 FG Coates 7 BM Drake-Lee Str. GW Newton Dunn Cox CR Watson RN Traquair GC Willan
Fourth Boat
Bow JHM Weston 2 HN Cox 3 TD Fraser 4 GP Norton 5 GM Fleming 6 ER Mounsey 7 GCL Pile Str. JS Clarke Cox JR Oliver ADG Braithwaite RN Traquair
May term, 1931
This being the end of the rowing year, a short resume of the achievements of the club should not be out of place.
The big event of the year, of course, was the winning of the Clinker Fours – an extremely fine effort by a crew far above the average. The last time this event was won by the College was in 1895. In the Lents we in no way disgraced ourselves, the second Boat in particular deserving mention for having so creditably gained four bumps and by doing so winning their oars.
In the Mays the First Boat came up a week early; it was not until three weeks had elapsed, however, that a final order was settled. Although not exactly a polished crew, it had plenty of dash and in the actual races it acquitted itself very creditably. On the first night it bumped Jesus II in the Ditch, the second night narrowly missed bumping Pembroke II, who scored a bump themselves in the Gut, thus sending down First Trinity II for it to annihilate on the third night; this it did with great proficiency on First Post Corner. The last night was a row over. The second Boat looked very promising during practice but did not come up to expectations in the the races. It did not have much difficulty in catching Trinity Hall II at Ditton but had to go all out on the second night eventually to catch Corpus I at the Railway Bridge. The third night it rowed over and on the fourth it was bumped by Lady Margaret who incidentally got their oars. The third Boat, we are sorry to say, went down four places.
May crews, 1931
First Boat
Bow JG Webb 11 0 2 RN Traquair 11 4 3 ADG Braithwaite 12 1 4 CB Anderson 13 5 5 EC Russell 13 12 6 GC Willan 12 5 7 WM Catchpole 12 6 Str. FS Hatfield 11 12 Cox AF Stallard 9 2
Second Boat
Bow CW McConnell 11 9 2 JG Murray 10 8 3 BM Drake-lee 12 6 4 JW Lewis 12 8 5 RDH Jones 12 6 6 WM Smythe 13 13 7 JJ Berry 11 7 Str. JD Pennington 13 1 Cox WH Coward 9 6
Third Boat
Bow GCL Pile 9 10 2 GP Norton 11 2 3 HN Cox 10 4 4 PVM Quiggin 10 0 5 T Bagshawe 13 1 6 ER Mounsey 11 0 7 TD Fraser 11 9 Str. FG Coates 11 5 Cox FL Kidd 9 0 Our thanks are due to D. A. Bickmore, D. Haig-Thomas, Dr J. D. Simpson and Dr D. Pennington for having so kindly spared time to coach us.
Boat club, 1931-32
After last year’s successes it was considered justifiable to enter for the Clinkers and Light Fours. The latter after three weeks practice under the coaching of Dr J. D. Simpson and Dr C. M. Billington, a new and very welcome coach to be club, was found to be rather inexperienced in the art of light-four rowing and was accordingly abandoned. The Clinker Four progressed very favourably under Dr Billington’s supervision. Unfortunately it was found to be incapable of rowing at a high rate of striking, and in the races lost to Pembroke, the ultimate winners, in the first-round.
It was decided to row two college trial eights crews over a lock-to-lock course. Since they were not evenly matched one crew was given half a minute’s start. This, however, was not a great success, since the losing crew caught two crabs and ran into the bank at Grassy!
The remaining two weeks were spent in getting three boats together for the Head-of-the-river race. May colours were allowed to row for the first time and the First Boat showed great promised under the coaching of Dr Billington and G. C. Willan. In an entry of 72 boats the respective order of the crews was eighth, 28th and 41st. The Freshers’ Sculls resulted in a win for PR Teichmann out of 14 entries.
Three people were sent in for the University trials-AF Haig, a freshman from Radley, who stayed in a week, G. C. Willan and and W. M. Smythe. Willan rowed in “A” crew which put up a record for the lock-to-lock course, but was unfortunate in being dropped after that. Smythe, who rowed the in a “B” crew the over the full course, was promoted to “A” crew when the crews were reduced to two; he finally rowed in the trials, being “6” in a “B” crew.
The Lents were rather a dismal affair. The first crew came up early and was coached by D. A. Bickmore, Esq. May colours in their second year were allowed to take part. The chief difficulty, however, was to find a suitable stroke, and after Coates had been tried for a fortnight, Willan took his place with some success. Unfortunately, a week before the races stroke strained a muscle and had to retire. Smythe then moved down from “6” to stroke, Ryrie coming up from the second Boat. In the races it was pleasing to see that, although they were considered easy prey for Clare I, it was not until the Railway Bridge that they were overtaken. On of the second night they were bumped by Christ’s I at the Railings. On the the third night after a good race in which the Cox took a prominent part, they were bumped by St. Catharine’s I at the Glass Houses. It should be added that the last two mentioned crews both got their oars. On the last night Caius rowed over in front all Trinity Hall I.
The second Boat, who started third in the second division, managed to maintain their position for the first three nights, a performance for which they are to be heartily congratulated. On the last night they succumbed to Lady Margaret II who made their fourth bump. The third Boat was rather disappointing in the races. It was bumped by Lady Margaret III at Ditton on the first night, by Peterhouse II at Morley’s Holt after a good race on the second. It rowed over on the third night and was caught by Corpus II on the last.
We had great difficulty in getting a Fourth Boat together at all owing to lack of members. The crew, although very keen, rather lacked experienced. Their record in the races is not very bright. On the first night they were bumped by St. Catharine’s III, on the second by Lady Margaret IV at Grassy, on the third by Clare III on First Post, and on the last night by Fitzwilliam House II at Ditton.
Michaelman term, 1932
It was decided at the end of last year that the college should row on swivels this year. Accordingly four eights were converted during the long vacation.
Eight men came up early in order to get some idea of the new style before the rest of the club came up. These were coached by W. A. T. Sambell and M. G. Pascalis of Pembroke.
It was decided to enter a Clinker Four in order to get some experience of racing in the new style before the Fairbairn Cup race. No light Four was entered as it was considered impossible for any four men to be able to adapt themselves to a new style in four weeks sufficiently well to be able to race in a light Four.
The Clinker Four were beaten in the semi-final by Peterhouse, after beating Madgalene and Downing.
The college trial eights races were rowed over the lock-to-lock course on the November 12 and won by “B” crew.
This year 18 freshman joined the Club. Three crews were entered for the Fairbairn Cup, which was rowed in two divisions owing to the large number of entries. All three crews were in the first division. The first Boat gained one place finishing sixth (seventh?): the Second Boat finished 34th and the Third 42nd. The following rowed in the University trial eights: G. C. Willan, W. M. Smythe, F. I. Geddes, S. R. Tubbs, W. H. Coward (Cox). The Freshers Sculls were won by S. R. Tubbs.
Michaelmas crews, 1932
Clinker Four
Bow FI Geddes 11 13; 2 WM Catchpole 12 5 1/2; 3 ADG Braithwaite 12 6; Str. KR Hayward 11 3; Cox WH Coward 9 9
Fairbairn Cup race
First Boat
Bow SR Tubbs 2 FG Coates 3 FI Geddes 4 JB Doyle 5 ADG Braithwaite 6 WM Smythe 7 AF Haig Str. FES Hatfield Cox WH Coward
Second Boat
Bow GC Rafferty 2 KR Hayward 3 D Woodward 4 PR Teichman 5 JH Moir 6 GP Norton 7 JA Lewis Str.ER Mounsey Cox CR Watson
Third Boat
Bow HN Cox 2 GW Willett 3 D Doran 4 BN John 5 T Bagshawe 6 FH Tyrer 7 AR Clark Str.EJ Routly Cox EH Evans
Lent term, 1933
A prospective Lent Boat came up on the 10th January to start practice under D. A. Bickmore, and in the early stages showed up quite promisingly, most of the outings being made in company with Emmanuel. As a soon as the rest of the college came up on the 16th two more eights were got underway. At the end of January an unusual diversion was caused by the river freezing over for four consecutive days during which rowing was impossible, and even when we were able to resume practice great care had to be taken to avoid floating blocks of ice!
To enable us to put a Fourth Boat on the river, M. S. Cummings, with the help off some members of the Rugger Club, got together a very passable boat, considering the short time at their disposal, which did very well when races came along. Lent colours went to: F. I. Geddes, A. F. Haig, J. A. Lewis, G. P. Norton, S. R. Tubbs, C. R. Watson.
The First Boat rowed over the first three nights, but fell to First Trinity II at the bottom of the reach on the last night. The Second and Third Boats were bumped each night, but the Rugger Boat, after being bumped the first night, re-bumped Jesus 5 the second night, made a bump the third night, and rowed over on the last – a very creditable performance on their part.
The third day’s racing will be remembered for a very long time by all who took part in it, by reason of a blinding snowstorm on and off the whole afternoon.
J. H. Moir entered for the junior Fairbairn sculls, but was unfortunate in being knocked out in the first-round.
Owing to a deplorably small number of entries the college Regatta had to be cancelled. It is very much to be hoped that this unfortunate state of affairs will not be allowed to occur again next year.
The term was finished with a number of outings by the prospective May Boat.
Lent crews, 1933
First Boat
Bow JAR Miles 2 GP Norton 3 JA Lewis 4 KR Hayward 5 AF Haig 6 FG Coates 7 FI Geddes Str. SR Tubbs Cox CR Watson Coaches DA Bickmore Esq ADG Braithwaite MG Pascalis (Pemb.)
Second Boat
Bow GC Rafferty 2 JE Makin 3 T Bagshawe 4 PR Teichman 5 JH Moir 6 ER Mounsey 7 AR Clark Str. JB Doyle Cox H Whitmore Coaches ADG Braithwaite GC Willan WM Smythe
Third Boat
Bow WJ Healy 2 H Jefferson 3 W Senssfelder 4 FH Tyrer 5 W Woodward 6 PVM Quiggin 7 JDB Doran Str. GW Willett Cox EH Evans Coaches BM Drake Lee WM Smythe
Fourth Boat
Bow HM Renwick 2 E Keighley 3 A MacIntyre 4 BO Allen 5 WM Catchpole 6 FWL Blaikie 7 PEO Bryan Str. MS Cumming Cox WH Coward Coaches GC Willan ADG Braithwaite
May term, 1933
D.A. Bickmore again kindly came up to start the May Boat off; and the crew at once began to show great promise, getting into the light ship after a week’s practice. After Bickmore left he was followed as coach by A. D. G. Braithwaite and then G. C. Willan.
The May Boat was coached for the last fortnight of training by F. K. Paul (Pembroke), but did not come on as well as was expected, and was rather disappointing in the races, bumping First Trinity II the first night, being bumped by Clare the third night and rowing over the other two; on the second night getting within a few feet of Pembroke 2.
The Rugger club very kindly helped us to make up the numbers of the Third Boat, but both the Second and Third Boats were very unsuccessful, the former being bumped by Magdalene I, Jesus III and Clare 2,and the latter by Sidney 2, First Trinity 4,Peterhouse II and St. Catharine’s 2.
May colours went to F.I. Geddes, S. R. Tubbs, K. R. Hayward, F. S. Coates, A. F. Haig and C. R. Watson.
May crews, 1933
First Boat
Bow SR Tubbs 2 KR Hayward 3 ADG Braithwaite 4 FG Coates 5 FI Geddes 6 WM Smythe 7 AF Haig Str. FES Hatfield Cox CR Watson DA Bickmore Esq GC Willan FK Paul (Pembroke)
Second Boat
Bow AR Clark 2 JE Makin 3 JDB Doran 4 H Jefferson 5 JH Moir 6 PR Teichman 7 JA Lewis Str. GP Norton Cox H Whitmore ADG Braithwaite FI Geddes CPJ Englebach(Clare) SR Tubbs
Third Boat
Bow GC Rafferty 2 FH Tyrer 3 HM Renwick 4 G Keighley 5 MS Cumming 6 JB Doyle 7 D Woodward Str. EJ Routley Cox WH Coward Coach ADG Braithwaite
Michaelmas term, 1933
It was decided this term to try to get both a Light and a Clinker Four out.
The Light Four started as:
Bow JAR Miles 2 SR Tubbs 3 FI Geddes Str. AF Haig. The Four was coached by J. T. Holland (University College, Oxford), but had to be abandoned owing to a series of accidents.
Tubbs was sufficiently recovered from a strained muscle to take Anderson’s place in the Clinker Four, but about four days before the races he again crocked and Doyle came in.
The order of racing was:
Bow RD Kennedy 2 JB Doyle 3 JA Lewis Str.AF Haig Cox EH Evans SR Tubbs FI Geddes
Considering the very short time they were together, they raced very pluckily, and did well, only losing to Pembroke, the ultimate winners, by 15 seconds in fast time.
J. H. Moir entered for the Colquhoun Sculls but found C. K. Buckle (Magdalene) just too good for him.
It has been decided not to hold crock races this year, but to let all the college Boats in the Fairbairn Cup race compete for tankards, giving the junior Boats a time allowance.
Lent term, 1934
A prospective First Lent Boat came up a week before term and started practice with D. A. Bicker, Esq. as coach. Everyone learnt to drive hard with his legs, and although the watermanship was not of a very high standard, the boat showed some promise. On January 17th, F.I. Geddes took over the coaching until January 29th, when J. Reeves (Yale and Clare) took charge of the boat. Reeves, by taking an immense amount of trouble, succeeded in instilling in the crew considerable rhythm, liveliness and power. In the lent races the First Boat rowed over on the first night, the boat in front making a bump. On the second night we got within half a length of Christ’s I, on the third night, with the aid of a good spurt we came within six feet of Christ’s I but still failed to make our bump. On the last night, at Ditton Corner, we succeeded in making our bump.
The First Boat raced well and as seven members of the crew will be up next year; the prospects for next year are quite good, although at present the club is rather down in numbers.
The Second Boat lacked real rowing ability but raced with determination and courage; but unfortunately Magdalene I, Jesus 3,Downing I – all fast boats, proved too good for them and they went down three nights.
The Third Boat was only able to practice three days at week and consequently lost four places without offering much resistance.
FI Geddes is entering for the Junior Fairbairn sculls, and the college freshman sculls and Regatta will be held before the end of this term.
Lent crews, 1934
First Boat
Bow JAR Miles 2 PT Anderson 3 RD Kennedy 4 A Ackroyd 5 W Woodward 6 JH Moir 7 JA Lewis Str. SR Tubbs Cox NG Watson
Second Boat
Bow RB R-S-Harvie 2 BC Robertson 3 MEM Maclaren 4 HB Whitmore 5 JDB Doran 6 PR Teichman 7 RR Woodward Str.GC Willett Cox EH Evans
Third Boat
Bow A Bleasdale 2 BS Stephan 3 HWJ Rothschild 4 GG Innes 5 DP Teichman 6 JE Makin 7 IMC Braby Str. H Jefferson Cox JH Andrewes May term, 1934
The First Boat was coached by D. A. Bickmore, Esq., GB Jepson(Jesus) and S. K. Tubbs Esq., and thanks to the coaching was a really fast boat by the time of the races. On the first night of the races we surprised Pembroke by bumping their Second Boat as near the start as in the Gut. On the second night we rowed over as Clare I made a bump in front of us. On the third we easily bumped Christ’s I on First Post Corner, and on the last night we rowed over within our distance of Clare I. The Second and Third Boats were of a rather low standard, and each lost four places.
May crews, 1934
First Boat
Bow RD Kennedy 11 12; 2 PT Anderson 12 0; 3 FI Geddes 11 10; 4 JH Moir 15 10; 5 AF Haig 13 7; 6 FG Coates 11 7; 7 JA Lewis 12 10; Str. SR Tubbs 11 7 Cox NG Watson 9 0
Second Boat
Bow HB Whitmore 10 2; 2 H Jefferson 10 13; 3 MEM Maclaren 11 6; 4 PR Teichman 12 11; 5 RR Woodward 11 1; 6 FM Hayes 13 1; 7 JAR Miles 11 13; Str. A Ackroyd 11 6; Cox JH Andrews 8 10
Third Boat
Bow RP Wissler 11 12; 2 JH Dean 10 7; 3 RB R-S-Harvie 9 4; 4 JW McKendrick 12 9; 5 JM Willcox 10 4; 6 EK Yapp 10 7; 7 D Woodward 12 4; Str. II Geddes 10 8; Cox REWB Comerford 9 6
Henley Royal Regatta, 1934
In view of the First Boat’s success in the May races, it was decided to enter a crew for the Ladies Plate and the visitors Cup. The eight, although rather rough, again had a fair amount of speed under the coaching of S. K. Tubbs, and it was said to be the fourth fastest crew in the Ladies Plate, so it was unfortunate that we drew Jesus I, who ultimately won the final in record time, but we gave them a good race and lost by 1 3/4 lengths in the fastest time of the day. The Four showed considerable promise, and in the first-round beat Christ’s College Cambridge, by 1 1/2 lengths, but in the semi-final it proved disappointing and lost to First Trinity, the winners of the event.
Henley Crews, 1934
Ladies Plate
Bow RD Kennedy 2 PT Anderson 3 JAR Miles 4 JH Moir 5 AF Haig 6 FG Coates 7 JA Lewis Str. SR Tubbs Cox NG Watson
Visitors Cup
Bow PT Anderson 2 FG Coates (steers) 3 JA Lewis Str. SR Tubbs
Michaelmas term, 1934
At the beginning of term a Four started practice for the University Clinker Fours, and two “crock” eights started practice for the Fairbairn Cup. The Clinker Four was stale by the time of the races and lost to Trinity Hall in the first-round.
S. R. Tubbs reached the final of the Colquhoun sculls, but was then beaten by three seconds by E.A. Szilagyi (Jesus). S. R. Tubbs, J. A. Lewis, P. T. Anderson and A. G. S. Bailey have been given trials in the University Trial Eights.
The Fairbairn Cup 1934 places on the river:
First VIII 19th 17 minutes 17 2/5seconds
Second VIII 40th 17 minutes 55 4/5 seconds
Third VIII 57th 18 minutes 59 2/5 seconds
The tankards awarded on a handicap based on practice times were: First VIII scratch; Second VIII 35 seconds; Third VIII 1 min. 45 seconds, so the Third VIII won the tankards.
Practice for the Fairbairn Cup was considerably upset by J. A. Lewis P. T. Anderson and A. G. S. Bailey rowing at various times in the Trial VIIIs. Owing to this and to the short interval between the Clinker Four races and the Fairbairn Cup the crews were only together in their final order from the Monday before the races, which were rowed on Saturday for the First Division and Friday for the Second Division. On account of this none of the boats were really well together and there was a tendency in the First Boat for the crew to lose their poise and check the boat.
S. R. Tubbs stroked “B” trial eight which beat “A” crew by about two lengths.
Michaelmas crews, 1934
First Boat
Bow RR Woodward 11 5; 2 PT Anderson 12 1; 3 RD Kennedy 11 1; 4 AGS Bailey 12 0; 5 JA Lewis 13 2; 6 FM Hayes 13 4; 7 D Woodward 12 7; Str. JAR Miles 12 2; Cox NG Watson 9 0; M Carter (Pembroke)
Second Boat
Bow RB R-S-Harvie 9 13; 2 H Jefferson 11 2; 3 HWJ Rothschild 11 2; 4 JFOS Graham 12 8; 5 WRB Dickinson 13 2; 6 JE Makin 11 2; 7 MEM Maclaren 11 4; Str. HB Whitmore 10 6; Cox REWB Comerford 9 0; RD Kennedy JA Lewis
Third Boat
Bow J Tearle 10 13; 2 AJ Edden 10 10; 3 DP Teichman 11 11; 4 EA Trotman 11 3; 5 TRN Dunn 13 1; 6 VG Cunnynghame 10 3; 7 SJR Phillips 11 7; Str. EPR Bates 13 4; Cox AHB Wood 9 5; D Woodward PT Anderson
Lent term, 1935
The First Boat was rather short and tended to wash out at the finish. They lost two places, being bumped by Queens’ I between Ditton Corner and the Railings, and Jesus II on Ditton Corner. The day they were bumped by Queens’ there was a very strong head wind especially in the Reach, and it is quite possible that in still conditions they might have got away. Queens’ I went on to get their oars, and Jesus II made three bumps. The First Boat is now 12th.
The Second Boat showed a welcome recovery from their form of last year by bumping Downing I instead of losing three places. On the last day they did well to keep away from Clare II who overlapped them at Ditton Corner. The Second Boat is now 10th in the Second Division
The Third Boat unfortunately went down four places. They had not been together very long and several of them took up rowing only this term. The Third Boat is now “sandwich” boat between the Third and four Divisions.
Lent crews, 1935
First Boat
Bow RR Woodward 11 7; 2 HB Whitmore 10 1; 3 MEM Maclaren 11 2; 4 H Jefferson 11 0; 5 D Woodward 12 12; 6 FM Hayes 13 8; 7 RD Kennedy 11 3; Str. AGS Bailey 12 1; Cox NG Watson 9 3
Second Boat
Bow RB R-S-Harvie 10 0; 2 JFOS Graham 12 10; 3 DP Teichman 11 13; 4 EPR Bates 13 8; 5 TRN Dunn 13 7; 6 EA Trotman 11 4; 7 WRB Dickinson 13 6; Str. VG Cunnynghame 10 4; Cox REW Comerford 9 2
Third Boat
Bow NM Clothier 9 12; 2 TC Langdon 11 3; 3 RW Morris 10 0; 4 WMM Douglass 11 2; 5 WJB Rogers 11 12; 6 DG Hill 12 12; 7 SJR Phillips 11 4; Str. AJ Edden 10 10; Cox AHB Wood 9 2
May term, 1935
I have been attacked no less than four times in the last week by editors, sub-editors, artists, etc. three times asking for an account of the boat club’s activities, and once asking me to keep still for 35 minutes so that the opposite page could be mutilated by H. J. W. H. Having had large doses of glucose and lemon, I have at last produced enough energy to write about the boat club – a very vague subject.
Once again the “Tubbs coalition” produced an eight that managed to make two bumps. The early coaching was done of B.C. Johnstone Esq. and “the Basket” (evening standard). The Tubbs coalition only came into full force for the last 10 days. The early work of the eight was not impressive – it managed to upset Mr Johnstone’s ankle, to say nothing of sending “the Basket” to bed for two days with a headache.
As soon as “S. K.” came along, things suddenly appeared to improve; and on the first day of the May races the eight realised that they were going to have a race with other boats and things looked up. The first night Gonville bumped Clare by the Railings, after Clare had overlapped Jesus II for no less than three minutes. The second night Gonville made a bayonet charged on Colonel Atty Bardwell and his troops (Jesus 2), who surrendered at First Post corner. After that splendid attack Gonville were unable to make any advance up the river, as Third were too fast for them.
The bump supper was attended by most members of the club, and among those present were Dr Showell-Rogers, S. K. and O.S. Tubbs, J. H. Moir, and the new Hockey Secretary. During the supper, the boat club decided to go to Henley.
The crew arrived at Henley on Monday, June 24th. We entered for the Thames Cup, and drew Vesta rowing club in the first-round, beating them by 1 1/2 lengths. In the second round we were beaten by Oriel College, who were Head of the River at Oxford.
Members of the eight got back to their respective destinies gradually; some staying at Henley until the end of the Regatta.
“S. K.” was to have coached the boat at Henley, but unfortunately he had a date with the judge at the old Bailey – as a member of the jury only – and consequently was unable to come. His place was well filled by an old Caius man, B. N. Booth-Mason, Esq.
We would like to thank all coaches who during our training looked after us from the bank, whether it was for one day, two days, one week or two weeks; and we apologise if we were really responsible for the bad ankles, headaches, and other ailments which they incurred. The order of rowing was as follows:
1st Boat Bow R R Woodward 11 6; 2 M E M Maclaren 11 8; 3 D Woodward 12 10; 4 F M Hayes 13 3; 5 J A R Miles 12 7; 6 S R Tubbs 12 0; 7 J A Lewis 13 3; Str. A G S Bailey 12 0; Cox N G Watson 9 2
The Coaches were D. A. Bickmore Esq., B.C. Johnstone Esq., J. N. Duckworth, S. K. Tubbs and D.G. Kingsford.
The Second Boat, like the First, had many different Coaches; but in spite of this they managed to move the boat fairly well by the time the races came along. After three exhausting but fruitless days of racing: they bumped Downing on the fourth night. We hope that the Second Boat will continue to go up.
The order of rowing was as follows:
2nd Boat
Bow V G Cunnynghame 10 1; 2 J F O S Graham 13 1; 3 J R N Dunn (TRN?) 13 5; 4 H Jefferson 11 0; 5 R D Kennedy 11 3; 6 E P R Bates 13 4; 7 W R B Dickinson 13 7; Str. H B Whitmore 10 1; Cox R E W B Comerford 9 4
The Coaches were J.A. Lewis, A.G.S. Bailey and S. R. Tubbs.
Unfortunately the Third Boat failed to register on anything other than the bank or the boat behind.
The order all rowing was as follows:
3rd Boat
Bow J Tearle; T C Langdon; N M Clothier; M J Greenberg; G F Phelps; A Ackroyd; W J B Rogers; Str. P T Anderson; Cox A H B Wood; Coach M E M Maclaren The Clinker Four was composed of one old May colour, Woodward, and three members of the Second May Boat. They never had a really bad patch during the training and raced very well indeed. They showed great enthusiasm and keenness and deserved their eventual success. On the first day they rowed over the whole course at 40, and managed to beat Pembroke by 2 seconds. Their time was seven minutes 41 seconds which is equal with the record.
On the second day they did the same time as Queens’, whilst beating Corpus by one hundred yards. In the final they rowed at their best, but Queens’, who rowed better than ever before, just won by 3/4 length.
The crew were: Bow H B Whitmore; 2 J F O S Graham; 3 R R Woodward; Str. E P R Bates; Cox R E W B Comerford; Coach A G S Bailey
1935
To the Boat club
Oh gentle muse, my songs again inspire
With Pope’s too perfect metre and his harsh satire;
With fulsome praises of that Boat Club crew,
Which pleasant sound, is seldom ever true.
Oh, Polyhymnia, strike responsive chords
To suit majestic songs with noble words;
Interpret noble feelings, gallant deeds,
Commemorate victorious speeds. Recruited from the ranks of those who’ve sought
In Action refuge from unwelcome Thought,
The Boat club members are a varied lot-
Surrealist versions of the Argonaut-
With beardless chin and bristly lip they stand,
Defying Thought’s assaults on every hand;
Repelling Knowledge with a desperate skill,
Mask Matchless Ignorance with Dauntless Will.
From Knowledge, Learning and all Wit secure
They yield instead to Rowing’s strange allure.
Each day their slides rolled in predestined grooves
Until each mind as circumscribedly moves;
Until at last, where once was human mind.
A vast, quite perfect vacuum we find.
Perfection once attained, at every cost
Retained must be, lest it again be lost.
No more near dangers to their Minds they stray
And pass in blissful emptiness the Day,
As all who find this world a pleasant place
As long as Cambridge fails to lose the race.
N. B. J. H.
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